New Article out in Porn Studies

Despite its prevalence, the term
‘extreme’ has received little critical attention. ‘Extremity’ is routinely
employed in ways that imply its meanings are self-evident. However, the
adjective itself offers no such clarity. This article focuses on one particular
use of the term – ‘extreme porn’ – in order to illustrate a broader set of
concerns about the pitfalls of labelling. The label ‘extreme’ is typically
employed as a substitute for engaging with the term’s supposed referents (here,
pornographic content). In its contemporary usage, ‘extreme’ primarily refers to
a set of context-dependent judgements rather than absolute standards or any
specific properties the ‘extreme’ item is alleged to have. Concurrently then,
the label ‘extreme’ carries a host of implicit values, and the presumption that
the term’s meanings are ‘obvious’ obfuscates those values. In the case of
‘extreme porn’, this obfuscation is significant because it has facilitated the
cultural and legal suppression of pornography.